PROJECT TITLE: ‘My Animals and Other Family' DATE: 08/10/2013
FORM OF PROJECT: Documentary LENGTH: 15-20 minutes
TAGLINE:
STUDENTS INVOLVED:
NAME ROLE
1. Hannah Bushnell Director
2. Paul Manning Producer
3. Luke Parker/Paul Manning Sound Recorder
4. Luke Parker/Bex Bell Editor/s/Sound Editors
5. Natalie Obank Camera/Cinematographer
PROJECT SYNOPSIS:
The documentary is set at The Exotic Pet Refuge that is located in a small corner of the Fens. The main focus of the documentary is to show the human struggle of Pam, the founder and owner of the refuge, which she has been fighting to keep open for nearly 30 years. We aim to show the not so cuddly and fluffy side to having to care for an array of exotic animals. Most of the animals have been taken to the refuge because their owners could no longer look after them or because they’ve had problems and no one else could take them. We want to tell Pam’s story of how she came to start the refuge and how she’s managed to keep it going all these years with the constant threat of closure. Now is also an even more crucial time for Pam because funds are dwindling due to poor turn outs on open days this year, winter is arriving which means rising costs and Pam also has to deal with her own poor health. Due to all this we also aim to find out how Pam and her aid, manager Toni, plan to maintain the survival of the refuge now and in the future if it doesn’t close.
The volunteers and stories of individual animals will also run underneath the main story arc as this will also add to the emotion of the piece (although not being an appeal) as many of the animals have health issues and also interesting personalities.
OUTLINE OF VISUAL STYLE
An intimate interview with the main contributor Pam will be the main arc of the film and the thing that propels it and this will have quite a subdued feel to it. Footage of Pam working at the refuge will be used alongside her interview as this will enforce her passion for it still. Alongside Pam there will be footage of other volunteers working at the refuge with the animals to show what she is doing this for and what it means to them. Even though the tone will be mostly quite poignant, footage of the animals will also run through it to offer something a bit more relief and fun from all the doom and gloom and to show the audience what Pam is so passionate about. Close up shots will be used a lot of Pam and the animals as the intimacy will enhance the emotion of the story and that is Pam trying to keep these animals alive. Little footage of other volunteer’s actual faces will be used as to not take away from the fact this is Pam’s story.
As a group we quite like the poetic style of some of Eva Weber’s films like ‘The Solitary Life of Cranes’, and ‘Steel Homes’. This is why we want to have the volunteers talking over visuals of themselves, this means either sound and visual being recorded separately, or just not showing the volunteers face as they talk so you just see them working.
OUTLINE OF SOUND STYLE
Narrative of Pam and volunteers will be the driving force of the documentary but there will be many different animal sounds to layer it and build a real feel for the place. The interviews will be quiet and sombre and to break that up atmos of the refuge and the animals will be used. When you’re at the refuge the animal sounds are very noticeable as one minute it will be silent and then they’ll all start at once or as each animal catches on the noise will slowly escalate which I want to try and portray and also that these sounds that may be unusual to the audience are part of Pam’s everyday life.
There will also be use of ambient music accompany parts of the documentary, particularly to enhance the most poignant parts, but not to detract focus from the talking. It needs to be relevant but not too sad as our intention is not to make an appeal but to inform in an emotional way.
OUTLINE OF KEY THEMES
Human struggle of Pam and Toni keeping the refuge going.
Hardship of winter
Future of refuge.
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